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Comment by no_wizard | Hacker News Reader

Yet again, Minnesota bucks the trend. Wonder why they keep doing so well while the rest of the middle states flounder.

By bucking the trend I mean that compared to most other states it appears to be very comfortable and prosperous across the state in most but not all counties at least according to this map. I’ve seen similar findings in New Yorker and in the NYT too.

Edit: is there something MN is doing that we could all learn from? They weren’t apart of the North Dakota oil boom really so I don’t think it’s that.

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>Yet again, Minnesota bucks the trend.

I don't know of a definitive study that controls for all variables but one theory is the heavy Nordic population there.[1]

If you believe in cultural factors... (e.g. memes such as "Swiss punctuality", "German engineering", "Protestant work ethic", etc), there's something about Nordic culture or solidarity that aids success. (E.g. Norway does not squander its oil resources and built up its citizens' pensions -- while oil-rich Venezuela is basically bankrupt.) It's hard to think of a geographical area in USA with significant # of descendants of Sweden/Norway/Denmark being an economic slum.

It's an interesting correlation, if not provable causation.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Americans

Minnesota has a lot of very unique things going for it. An above average number (17) of Fortune 500s in the Twin Cities area. One of the nations best private hospitals (Mayo Clinic), which drives its 3rd largest city's economy. A low cost of living due to opinions on its climate.

They also have a long-tradition of left-wing politics, rooted in a sense of “Midwestern decency.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Minnesota

It appears they have one of the highest education rates in the country too "Education in Minnesota" on @Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Minnesota?wprov...

> Yet again, Minnesota bucks the trend. Wonder why they keep doing so well while the rest of the middle states flounder.

I would assume its because the majority of Minnesotans live in the Twin Cities Metro and the Twin Cities is doing pretty well economically. For example 16 of the 17 Fortune 500's in Minnesota are headquartered in the Twin Cities and the unemployment rate is about 3%. If you drive outside the Twin Cities lots of towns look pretty distressed.

They're an old money'ish place, lead by many large companies including Cargill, the quiet behemoth that continues to chug along.

I feel this advantage should also extend to states like New York then? This map at least seems to show that it can’t be the only factor?

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